Key result
Average postoperative blood glucose ≥180 mg/dL was an independent predictor for venous thromboembolism within 90 days following geriatric femur fracture fixation (10.9% vs 3.1%, p=0.003).
Why the study?
Data on the impact of perioperative hyperglycemia on thrombotic risk and outcomes following femur fracture fixation in the elderly population remained limited.
Does average postoperative blood glucose ≥180 mg/dL increase the risk of VTE and PE in adults ≥60 years old undergoing operative fixation for femur fractures?
Cohort (n=614)
Yes
Does average postoperative blood glucose ≥180 mg/dL increase the risk of VTE and PE in adults ≥60 years old undergoing operative fixation for femur fractures?
Absolute Event Rate: 10.9% vs 3.1%
p-value: p=0.003
Acute perioperative hyperglycemia (≥180 mg/dL), regardless of diabetes diagnosis, is an independent risk factor for VTE and PE following geriatric femur fracture fixation.
Postoperative hyperglycemia may warrant glucose monitoring after geriatric femur fixation; leaves open whether control reduces VTE/PE in trials.
Introduction: Geriatric femur fractures occur in complex hosts that pose significant challenges in perioperative management, with venous thromboembolism (VTE) as a well described complication. Hyperglycemia, prevalent in the perioperative period, has been implicated in increasing thrombotic risk. However, data on its impact on outcomes following femur fracture fixation in the elderly population remains limited. Methods: A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted on adults >60 years old undergoing operative fixation for femur fractures between January 2017 and December 2019. Demographic information, comorbidities, and outcomes were collected from electronic medical records. Results: Six hundred and fourteen patients met inclusion criteria. The average age was 78.7 years (30.3% male; 25.0% with diabetes mellitus (DM) diagnosis). Patients with postoperative glucose ≥180 mg/dL had significantly higher rates of pulmonary embolism (PE) and VTE within 90 days, and glucose ≥180 mg/dL was an independent predictor for these events. Those with a DM diagnosis had higher rates of sepsis but not PE, VTE, or other complications compared to those without DM. Conclusion: Acute perioperative hyperglycemia, regardless of DM diagnosis, is an independent risk factor for VTE and PE following geriatric femur fracture fixation. Strict glucose control in the postoperative period may improve outcomes in this patient population.
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Herman et al. (2025) conducted a cohort in Geriatric femur fractures (n=614). Average postoperative blood glucose ≥180 mg/dL vs. Average postoperative blood glucose <180 mg/dL was evaluated on Venous thromboembolism (VTE) within 90 days (p=0.003). Average postoperative blood glucose ≥180 mg/dL was an independent predictor for venous thromboembolism within 90 days following geriatric femur fracture fixation (10.9% vs 3.1%, p=0.003).
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